Composite panel assembly



g- .1963 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,099,863

1963 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3O99,863

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheecs-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 51, 1958 INVENTORJ GORDON J. P01. LCJ( a- BY SILBER? L..FOWLE&

ENCEX5.

1963 e. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,099,863

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 31, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR5 GOP DON J. POLLOCI( By G/LBERT L.FOWLE5.

1963 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,099863 COMPOSITE PANEL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 31, 1958 IN V EN TOR.S

GORDON POLLOCK BY GIL.BERT L .FOWLES 1963 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,099,863

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSEMBLY INVENTOR5 GORDON J. POLLOC/t 5. 3y GILBERT L 70/4/4615 3,099,863 CMPOSETE PANEL ASSEMELY G63Zfi=011 3. Polloclt, Fauna, and Gi't'loert L. Fowles, Lakewoo, he, assignors to The E. F. Hausermau Compmy, Cievelanrl, l3io, a corporation o=f Uhio Filed Jan. 31, 1958, Sex. N0. 712,520 Clairns. (C1. 20-4) This invention relates as iudicated to a compositc panel assembly of a type designed to be employecl in the canstruction of movable partition-s for use in Office buildings, industrial plants, domcstic dwelling houses and the like. More particularly, the invention is concerned With -a mode of construction and assembly afiording the architect a versatile medium whereby a variety of difierent physical and ornamental efiects may be achieved.

"Ehe use of movable partitions and wall panels, more especially steel panels, has become increasingly general not only in large conunercial establishrnents and institutions such as manufactu-ring plants, laboratories and hospitals, but also in many of the newer and more elabonate ofiice buildings. There is, moreover, an increasing interest in the use of such movable partitions in homes.

Reference may be had to the application of Gordon J. Pollock for U.S. Letters Patent Serial N0. 661,669, filecl May 27, 1957, Movable Pnnel Assembly, not Patent N0. 2943718 for a description of a new and improved methocl of mounting side panels of such partitions for ready installrnent, removal and replacernent. Reference may also be had to the applioation 0f Gilbert L. Fowles and Gordon I. Pollock for U.S. Letters Patent Serial N0. 663,643, filecl Inne 5, 1957, Partition System, now Patent N0. 3033330 disclosing another method of installing and mounting the panel mernbers. The panel methbers of the present invention may be secured to the usual vertioal posts in a warmer generally similar to that disclosed in such prior applications.

It is an important objeot of (the present invention to provide new and improved means for assembling and interconnecting multiple wall panel members =to a.fford a variety cf architectural and ornarnental efiects.

Another object is to provide means for asscmbling a varety of diflerent panel elements such as sheet metal wall members and glass or plastic window panes, for example, in a manner Which is quick and convenien-t, facilitating such installation, and which is also ornamental in character.

Still another cbject is to provide decorative trirn r'or Wall panels, window frames, door frames and the l-ike which Will be both decorative and also serve to interengage and interlo-ck the several elements together.

Other objects of the invention Will appear as the description proceeds.

T0 the accomplishment of the forcgoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereina.fter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the followi'ng description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative emboclirnents of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in Which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a semi-diagramm-atic mrspective view of a Wall partition section between two vertical posts and comprising three vertically stacked individual panel mernbers;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on a much enlarged scale through the cornposite panel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section corresponding t0 FIG. 2 but illustrating the manner in which decorative spacer elements may be interposed between the successive vertically stacked side panel mernbers;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 2 but illus- 3,09%03 Fatented Aug. 6, 1963 trating the manner in which a glass window pane or the like may be substituted for the metal panel;

FIG. 5 is a semi-diagnammatic perspective view illustrating the manner in which a large individual gl-ass or plastic pane may be installed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section tal en on the line 6-6 on FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 77 on FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a serni-diagrammatic perspective view of a door and door frame assernbly ernhoclying certain principles cf nur invention; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical transverse section 011 an enlarged sc*ale taken an the line 9-9 on FIG. 8.

Referring now more particul arly to said drawing and es=pecially FIGS. 13 thereof, it will be seen that the partition there illustrated comprises three verticflly stacked Wall panel members, ordinarily of sheet metal, l, 2 and 3 secured to vertical posts such as 4 in the manner described in the above-identified prior applications, -for example. Such posts extend frorn the floor 5 to the ceiling 6 engaging an upper channel member 7 and a lower channel member S. A horizontal rail 9 extends between the posts a short distance abovc the floor and serves as a support for the lower panel mernber. Va.rious types of closure strips and the like may bc utilized to close the gap between nail 9 and the floor, in well-known manner, and likewise to close the gap between the upper edge of the upper panel 1 and the ceiling 6.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the horizontal rail 9 may comprise two lil e steel members of general J shape crosssection spot welded back to back to iorrn a rigid beam adapted to support the weight of the three panel members 1, 2 and 3 thereon. It will bc understood that, as shown, there will :ordinarily =be two such sets of side panel mernhers, one set constituting each =of the sides of the partition. Obviously, the number of such panel members may be varied as desired and they may also be '0f diflerent vertical extent instead of being of the same ventical extent las shown in F1G. l. They may also be varied in color, finish and material :to make available a Wide variety of combinations in order to obt-ain a desircd ornamental or architectural effect. The rail or bez-m 9 may be considered as com prising a horizontally extending upwardly opening channel which in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided with a vertically projecting cen-tr-al web 10 having an additional rigidifying eifect. However, as shown in F.[G. 4, such lower horizontally extending rail may cornprise a simple channel 11 With0ut such central upstanding web portion, and in such case Will ordinarily be formed of sornewhat heavier gauge steel. As shown in each of these figures, the longitudinally extending channel edges or lips Will preferably be turned outwardly and downwardly as shown a.t 12 and 13 in FIG. 2, and 14 and 15 in FIG. 4. In each of the ernbodirnents of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 inolusive, the lower sheet metal Wall panel members 3 are turned inwarclly at their lower edges to form a flange 16 normal to the outer ventical ways cf the panel and rthen inclined upwardly tat an angle conforming to the inclination of the downturned outwardly projecting channel lip such as 13 in FIG. 2, and then vertically downwardly to afford a terminal downwardly projecting edge portion such as 17 adapted to hook over the channel side of rail 9 as shown. When it is oonsidered that the respective ends o-f panel mernber 3 are secured to upstanding posts and that the lower side 0f the panel rnember rests up-on nail 9 in the manner described and illustrated, it Will be appreciated that such lower panel is very securely and rigidly supported. Closure strip-s -auch as 18 and 19 may be clipped to the respective sidcs of the floor channel member 8 to close the gap bc-tween the latter and the undersides 0:E the respective panel members 3', the upper edge porticms of such closure strips being turned inwardly as shownvto conform no the horizontally inwardly projecting lower flanges 16 and the upwardly and inwardly sloping continuat-ions of such flanges. lt Will thus be apparent -that the upper portiong of closure strips 18 and 19 are locked against outward withdrawal by such interengagement.

An interior shect er Wall 20 f fire insulating, and sound deadening material may be placed in the space between the two sides =of the Partition, resting upon the lower horizontal rail 9. The upper edge p:ortion of panel 3 corresponds fto the lower edge portion, comprising a horizontal inwardly extencling flange 21 having -a downwardly inclined extension 22, With the final edge portion23projecting upwardly parallel to the outer face of the panel member. Panel 1 may be of the sarne configuration as panel 3, and the upper and lower edge portions of the interposed panel 2 are shaped 450 be complementary :to rhe respective ed-ge portions 0f panels 1 and 3 engaged thereby. Consequently, all three p anels are locked logether in a t0ngue and groove type cf interfit and presermt a uniform, aligned 01' coplanar outer face.

The upper spacer or closure strips 24 and 25 Which bridge the space between the ceiling channel 7 and the upper edge of the upper pancl 1 arc cf sheet metal and have inturned flanges similar to the upper -intumed flanges of the lower closure strips 18 and 19 adapted to conform to the corresponding oppused uppe-r edges of panel members 1. Sheet metal Clips such as 26 may be provided which hook under the downwardly sloping upper ed-ge portions of panel members 1 and bear against and position the lower inturned edge portions of strips 24 and 25. The sheet metal panel members will ordinarily he strengthened and rigidified by =bonding lightweight sound deadening honeycomb type material 27 to their inner faces in conventional fashion. 'Ihis Will preferably be slightly spaced from the -inturned upper and lower edge flanges of the panel members to allow the latter to flex somewhat When they -are in=terfitted.

Referring 110W more pamticularly to FIG. 3 of |the drawing, spacer strips such as 28 may be interposed between each or some ofthe adjoining panel members such as l, 2 and 3 -:to aflford a difierent orn'amental eflect. Such spacer strips may be of sheet metal shaped to confor-m I0, and thereby complementary to, the opposed edge portions of the :adjoining panel mem-bers. They may extend flush with the outer surface 0f the wall or may -be recessed as shown in FIG. 3; alternatively they may project beyond thenormal outer Wall surface formed by such panel mernbers. As Will read-ily be understood, such spacer strips may be cf diflerent material, e.g. stainlcss steel or alufrom the panel members which may be pa.inted in dilferent colors, and -thereby afiord a variety 0f strikingly difierent Oma-mental efiects.

In the emhodiment of1:he invention illu-strated in FIG. 4, the upper and lower panel members 1 and 3 are mounted in the manner above described laut instead of the interposed .central panel 2, a glass pane 29 is installed. Such pane is mounted in a rubber or plastic sealing strip 30 supported against the backs of oppositely npening upper and lower channel mernber-s 31 and 32 respectively extending horizontally between the supporting posrts. Such channel members are cf the Same general configuration as -lower rail 11 and engage the inturnecl ed-ge portions of panel Inembers 1 and 3 in the same manner. The sealing strip 30 is held in place by detacha=ble sheet metal such as the slightly downwardly sloping sheet metal sill 33 having a down-tu-rned inner edge portion 34 adapted to abut against a side of the sealing strip. The outer portion 35 of sill member 33 is turned dovwn flush With the unter surface of panel member 3 and -then extends inwardly against the upper surfiace 21 0f .the corresponding up-per edge portion of panel 3 and -then downwardly agains t the downwardly and inwardly sloping continuation 22 of such panel upper edge portion. A sheet metal retainer strip haVing a shallow longitudinally extending channel portion 36 conforms t'o Ihe outer side of channel 32 and is provided with laterally extending Wings having upturned 0uter edge portions 37 and 38. The lower inwardly projecting eclge poutions cf the sill 33 -are accordingly clamped in place but may be withdrawn outwardly upon application cf sufiicient force temporarily resiliently to deform such outer wing portions cf shcet metal channel 36. Et Will thus be apprec-iated fchat the severalframe mem=bem corresponding to sill *member 33, b0th upper and lower, may -be snapped into pl ace in the same fashion.

Now referring to FIG. 5 cf the drawing, in the embodimentof the invention there illustrated, a lange pane of glass 39 (for purposes of illustration only; it Will be understood (hat a sheet of plastic or other selected material Inight alternativly be employed) fitted in a grooved sealing strip 40 substantially fills the space between a 10W- er rail 41 and an upper rail 42. These two railscmay cach comprise (wo channel members spot welded togetlher side by side for enhanced rigidity, the central upstanding portion of upper =rail 42 being of T-shaped cross-section as shown to fit and support a sheet metal spring clip mcmher 43 having outwardly projecting side portions such as 44 adapted to overlie and bear against the inwardly projecting lower edge portions of the closure strip such as 25, such latter lower edge portions including a downwardly stepped portion 45 held dowvn by a rebent prong 46 on unember 43. Clip 43 may be spot Welded to rail 42, and/er held in place by tabs 43a which fit fihrough suitable slots and -t-hen rnay be at least slightly bent. It Will thus be apparent that the closure strips 24 and 25 may be snapped into place or removed as desired without disturb- 1'ng other elements of the assembly.

The lower edges of such closure strips 24 and 25hear against the upper surface of frame and decorative tri.m members such as 47 Lhaving inturned rebent upper edge portions 48 adapted to hook behind lugs such as 49 struck up from the inturned upper lip portions such :as 50 of the channel sides of rail 42. The lower inwardly projec'ting portion of firame and trim unember 47 is turned up as at 51 I0 bcar against the corresponding side of SeaIing strip 40 and to engage behind downwardly pr0jecting lugs 52 struck down from the bottom of rail 42. Such frame and -trim member 417 will ordinarily preferably heofre- =silient steel strip so formed -that it is necessary slightly to increase the -spacingbetween downturned lip ortion 48 and upturned =lip ortion 51 -to conform the same to the portion of the rail engaged thereby, 'thereby ensuring'that such frame and trim anember firmly resiliently grasps the rail.

As may be seen from an inspection of FIG. 7, the 10W- er closure strips 18 and 19 are secured in place in the saune manner as the upper closure strips 24 and 25, and the fra.me and trim members 53 -are likewise 0f the same corifiguration and secured in the sameu:nanner as the upp'er unembers 47.

R-eferring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 cf the drawing sh0wing a doorway with trim and components in accordance With our invention, it will first be noted rhat the upper closure strips 24 and 25 are secured in place in the same manner as those of FIG. 6 although the upper'horizorital frame member or rail 54 is of dilferent configuration in its lower portions, opening downwardly rather than up- Wardly. The outer frarne and members 55 Correspond closely to sirnilar mernber 47 0f FIG. 6, but with the upturhed lower edge bortions 56 being bent at acute angles to engage behind lugs 57. The inner bellt edges of the trim mem'bers 55 ahnt against the vertical plane surfaces of substantially parallel plate rnembers 58 and 59 respectively whidh are secured'between upper rai=l portion 54 and'lower ra1'l portion 60. A door jamb meunber 61 fits into an appropriate angular recess 62 in the lower side of member 58, and dem 63 is adapted to bear thereagainst in closed position. The door 63 may -be mounted in any cohvenient manner as by hinges. The manner of mount-ing is not eritical to ine invention and therefore is n0t descr-ibed in detail.

Other forms embodying the features of the invention may be employed, change be'mg made as regards t-he features herein diselosed, provided flhose stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such r"eatures be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as nur invention:

1. In a composite panel assembly having horizontally spaced vertical posts,

(a) a substantially horizontally disposed beam elevated With respect the =lower terminals cf and interconnecting said post-s,

(b) said beam having laterally extending flanges to engage and support a pair of horizontally spacedapart sets of panel members, said panel members of each set being vertically arranged,

(c) each set const=ituting a side of a partition and being, separately and individually uspported with respect -to alle assembly only at a vertical end thereof and in a manner spaced fr0m 11he free of any contact with ehe other set substantially throughout its vertical extent,

(d) at least the bottom panel mnember of each set having side flanges extending inwardly substantially at right angles to t-he -face cf the panel crnember, then converga'ng together, and finally diverging in a dir-ection substantially parallel to -the face of said bottom panel member, the lower of such flanges thereby engaging a laterally extending fiange of said beam to support that set, and

(e) at least one other panel member of each :set having side flanges extending inwardly substantially at right ang1es to the face 0f said other panel member, then diverging, and finally converging in a d-i=rection substantially parallel to the faee -of said other panel me-mber,

(f) -che lower flange of said other panel member thereby nesting with flhe upper flange of said bottom panel member to interengage the panel members.

2. Th-e panel assembly of cl-aim 1 further including closure anembers contacting the end panel members of each set and extending in opposite directions -to close olif the lateral area 0f the assembly.

3. The Panel assembly cf claim 1 cfurther including accoustical insulation disposed between said two sets of panel members.

4. The pane1 assembly of claim 1 further including a spacer stnp interposed between the adjacent flanges of two adjoining panel members of the same set, said spacer strip having one portion confo=mned to mhe shape of one 0f said flanges and a -further portion effective to engage and space vertically the other of said adjacent flanges from said one flange.

5 The assembly of c1aim 2 further including c-lip means holding together said Closure rnembers and top-most panel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,912 Bokor May 19, 1908 1.183,607 Torjesen May 16, 1916 1285,728 Kalla Nov. 26, 1918 1575,705 Oberdorfer Mar. 9, 1926 1,585137 Weber May 18, 1926 1,450,733 Reaugh Apr. 3, 1928 2,097484 Winslow Nov. 2, 1937 2169,273 Mills Aug. 15, 1939 2,205,730 Morgan Inne 25, 1940 2394,146 Brunton Feb. 5, 1946 2,582,765 Brew Jan. 15, 1952 2,815542 Baker Dec. 10, 1957 2823,433 Kendall Feb. 18, 1958 2,867856 Codini Jan. 13, 1959 2874,420 Henderson Feb. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 210,208 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1924 

1. IN A COMPOSITE PANEL ASSEMBLY HAVING HORIZONTALLY SPACED VERTICAL POSTS, (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BEAM ELEVATED WITH RESPECT TO THE LOWER TERMINALS OF AND INTERCONNECTING SAID POSTS, (B) SAID BEAM HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGES TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACEDAPART SETS OF PANEL MEMBERS, SAID PANEL MEMBERS OF EACH SET BEING VERTICALLY ARRANGED, (C) EACH SET CONSTITUTING A SIDE OF A PARTITION AND BEING SEPARATELY AND INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORTED WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSEMBLY ONLY AT A VERTICAL END THEREOF AND IN A MANNER SPACED FROM THE FREE OF ANY CONTACT WITH THE OTHER SET SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT ITS VERTICAL EXTENT, (D) AT LEAST THE BOTTOM PANEL MEMBER OF EACH SET HAVING SIDE FLANGES EXTENDING INWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE FACE OF THE PANEL MEMBER, THEN CONVERGING TOGETHER, AND FINALLY DIVERGING IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FACE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL MEMBER, THE LOWER OF SUCH FLANGES THEREBY ENGAGING A LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE OF SAID BEAM TO SUPPORT THAT SET, AND (E) AT LEAST ONE OTHER PANEL MEMBER OF EACH SET HAVING SIDE FLANGES EXTENDING INWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE FACE OF SAID OTHER PANEL MEMBER, THEN DIVERGING, AND FINALLY CONVERGING IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FACE OF SAID OTHER PANEL MEMBER, (F) THE LOWER FLANGE OF SAID OTHER PANEL MEMBER THEREBY NESTING WITH THE UPPER FLANGE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL MEMBER TO INTERENGAGE THE PANEL MEMBERS. 